Faithbook blairscott

"I contend that we are Both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours" - Stephen Roberts

How Do You Imagine God?God in America and USA WEEKEND Magazine are partnering to explore Americans' images of God.

How do you imagine God?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
There is no evidence for any of the gods mankind has believed in over the eons. Without evidence, there is no reason to believe in any of the gods. The same reason I do not believe in Leprechauns or Faeries is the same reason I do not believe in any of the gods.

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My Beliefs

I believe ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
I believe that humanity will ultimately overcome its superstitions and bring about an enlightened time, where we will work together using science and reason to solve our challenges and problems and to address core issues such as education, poverty, famine, climate change, etc. I believe in my friends and family and the tangible support they offer.

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My most powerful moment of belief was ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
The most powerful moment in my path to non-belief was when, in my late teens, I first head the word Atheist and realized there was a word for what I was.

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My greatest moment of doubt was ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
I have never doubted my Atheism. As my friend Scott is fond of saying, "Once you learn how a magic trick is performed, you no longer fall for the magic trick."
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The biggest misconception about my faith/belief system is ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Atheists are not Satanists (we don't believe in him, either). Atheists are moral citizens: we serve in the military, we are police, firefighters, teachers, scientists, professors, business men, etc. Chances are you know an Atheist and do not even realize it.
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My spiritual role model is ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
I don't have a spiritual role model, but I do have people in my life who have influenced me. Books like the Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan and Unweaving the Rainbow by Richard Dawkins were great inspirations to me.

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The tenet/practice/teaching I appreciate most about my faith is ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Atheism has no tenets, teachings, dogma, doctrine, holy book, sacred text, priest/rabbi/minister/pope/pastor, etc. That is the greatest aspect of Atheism.
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My Faith History

As a child I believed ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
I grew up in the Presbyterian Church with my parents. I always had questions and found some of the stories very hard to believe. It was between the sixth and seventh grade that I tried searching on my own: I went to my own churches and read theology books. Then I realized that religion did not have the answers it claimed to have. I have been an Atheist ever since.
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My spiritual journey has been ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
My journey from faith to non-faith has been an amazing adventure, full of awesome people, events, places, etc. I have traveled to Israel, Turkey, Egypt, and other places of great interest to those of faith and enjoyed them for secular purposes and for the study of theology. My travels have allowed me to meet Atheist groups across the United States and give me fond memories of discussions, friendship, and a bond that can only come from a group of people bound by their minority status.
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I was raised as ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
I was raised Presbyterian, but later in life found out that my Dad was an agnostic during my childhood but did not say anything about it. My Mom, while bringing us to church, gave us the freedom to choose our own path.
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Are your beliefs or practices different from your parents? If so, how and why?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
They were at first, but then my Dad admitted he was an agnostic during my childhood. My Mom and I debated the issue for years after she found out I was an Atheist. She is now a deist who attends a Unitarian Universalist Church.
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If you have children, did becoming a parent change your relationship to faith? If so, how?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
When my children were born I never put it into the same frame as my non-faith. It wasn't until relatives began pushing their religion onto my children that it became an issue. However, I raised my children to choose their own path. One of my daughters is a deist and my other daughter is a Christian. It is their life to live and their decision to make about their religious beliefs.
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How I Practice My Faith

Where and when do you practice your faith?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Atheists don't really "practice their faith," since there is nothing to practice. However, we do get together to socialize, listen to lectures, protest violations of church/state separation, etc. Fellowship is not a religious word.
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Does your family practice more than one religion or faith? If so, how do you blend the traditions?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
When the entire family gets together it can certainly lead to interesting conversations. My wife and I are Atheists. My daughters are deist and Christian. My mother is deist. My father is agnostic. My step-mother is a Fundamentalist Christian. Most of my extended family are Christian, but there are several Wiccans/Pagans and at least one Buddhist. We don't worry about blending traditions and accept the traditions of the house in which we are visiting.
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How easy or difficult is it to live your faith? Why?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Being an Atheist is difficult in such a religious environment. Polls consistently show that Atheists are the most hated and distrusted group of people in America. My children have been the target of harassment at school. A cross has been planted in my yard, my car vandalized, and death threats made against me. Such actions speak volumes against the faith of others.
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In my house, the thing that most represents my faith is ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
My bookshelf.
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The song/book/film that most represents my faith is ...your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
There are so many! Two great songs are Imagine by John Lennon and Dear God by XTC. The movie Blasphemy does a good job with a touch of humor mixed in. The number of books are too many to list here.

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Religion & the Public Square

What should be the role of religion in politics?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Politicians can be religious. One does not have to leave their religion at the entrance of government. However, politicians should not be using the government to promote or prop up their religion or religious beliefs. Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers were clear about their intent behind the Separation of Church and State, as Jefferson put so eloquently in his letter to the Danbury Baptists.

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Should courses about religion be taught in public schools? Why or why not?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Comparative religion courses should definitely be taught in public schools. It is important for students to learn about the different religions of the world. Teaching the Bible is not necessary and incident after incident in several states has shown that the class cannot be taught objectively. Creationism belongs in the religion class: not in the science class.
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Should the Bible, Torah, Quran or other religious texts be taught as works of literature in public schools? Why or why not?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Only in a comparative religion class.
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Is interfaith dialogue important? Why or why not?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
It can be, but often times what Atheists find out is that when they try to participate the faiths do not want them there. As long as you believe in a god, you're cool with us... but Atheists! It is the main reason I stopped attending the Interfaith Alliance.
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Do you feel comfortable discussing your faith with others? Why/why not?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
I have no problem telling people that I am an Atheist. It is not something I go out of my way to bring up, but if someone asks I am honest about my Atheism. I am definitely out of the closet because of my work with local Atheists and the national organization American Atheists.
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Do you feel that you have a duty, because of your faith, to put your beliefs into action? What are some of those actions?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
Atheism does not compel me to do any of the things I do. It is reason, logic, and humanity that compel me to get involved. I stand up for the separation of church and state, religious freedom, freedom of speech, etc.

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Are religious beliefs compromised by engaging in politics?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
We have seen numerous examples of religious politicians, who promote "family values" and "Christian values" get in trouble for prostitution, drugs, etc. Perhaps the more important question is how much does politics corrupt religious beliefs?
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Has 9/11 had any impact on your thoughts about religion? Are you more/less interested in learning about other religions? Do you feel more/less comfortable expressing your religious beliefs?your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator
9/11 certainly added more concrete to the foundation of my Atheism. The world is full of both good and bad people, regardless of religious beliefs, but it takes religion to make a good person do a bad thing.